People's Republic of China, 1998

I wish to congratulate Mr. Opertti on his

assumption of the presidency of the General Assembly at

its current session. I believe that his wisdom and

experience will enable him to accomplish his important

mission with distinction.

I would also like to express my appreciation for the

contribution made by Mr. Udovenko as President of the

General Assembly during the previous session.

At present, the international situation is undergoing

profound changes. The accelerated trend towards

multipolarity has injected new vitality into international

relations. Economic globalization is developing very

quickly, and countries are becoming increasingly

interdependent. The development of multipolarity and

globalization has provided a stimulus to the readjustment

of international relations.

Bilateral partnerships, mainly characterized by non-

confrontation, non-alignment and non-targeting against

third countries, have been established one after another.

Various regional and intercontinental organizations of

cooperation have become more active than ever before.

Such endeavours to seek the establishment of stable,

pragmatic and balanced international relations contribute

to peace and development as well as to the establishment

of a fair and equitable new international political and

economic order.

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However, we cannot lose sight of the many

uncertainties still existing in the world.

The nuclear arms race is a product of the cold war. In

the post-cold-war period of today, the people of all

countries call fervently for the prevention of nuclear

proliferation and endeavours for nuclear disarmament.

It is to be regretted that last May India conducted

nuclear tests, going against the tide of the times, thus

adversely affecting peace and stability in South Asia.

Soon afterwards, Pakistan, too, conducted nuclear

tests. Their nuclear tests not only led to an escalation of the

tension between the two countries, but also dealt a heavy

blow to international nuclear disarmament and the

mechanism for the prevention of nuclear proliferation. This

has aroused the great concern of the international

community. We hope that India and Pakistan will fully

implement the Joint Communiqué of the five permanent

members of the Security Council, as well as the provisions

of Security Council resolution 1172 (1998), give up their

plans to develop nuclear weapons and immediately and

unconditionally accede to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-

Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation

of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). We appeal to India and

Pakistan to resolve the dispute over the issue of Kashmir

through peaceful means.

In our view, following the nuclear tests in South Asia,

the international community faces the pressing task of

consolidating and strengthening the international non-

proliferation mechanism to prevent further proliferation of

nuclear weapons and enhance the universality and authority

of the NPT.

China has all along stood for the complete prohibition

and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons. Back in 1994,

the Chinese Government proposed to the General Assembly

that a treaty on the complete prohibition of nuclear weapons

should be concluded through negotiations. Furthermore, the

Chinese Government has on many occasions called on all

the other nuclear States to undertake not to use or threaten

to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear States and

nuclear-free zones, has proposed the conclusion of a

convention on no first use of nuclear weapons through

negotiations and has called for the early negotiation of a

fissile material cut-off treaty. China was active in the

negotiations on the CTBT and was among the first to sign

the Treaty. Today, I would like to reiterate on behalf of the

Chinese Government that China will abide by the

provisions of the Treaty and has no intention of resuming

nuclear testing. China will continue to pursue the policies

of unconditional no first use of nuclear weapons and

unconditional no use or threat of use of nuclear weapons

against non-nuclear States and nuclear-free zones and will

continue to support the Conference on Disarmament in

Geneva to negotiate and conclude a non-discriminatory

and verifiable fissile material cut-off treaty on the basis

of the agreed mandate. China urges the countries with the

largest nuclear arsenals to accelerate their nuclear

disarmament process. As to the question of the ultimate

complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear

weapons, China, as a nuclear State, will never shirk its

responsibility.

The East Asian financial crisis that broke out in July

1997 has caused a sharp decline in the economies of

many countries of the region. Its negative impact is still

spreading. The drastic devaluation of the Japanese yen

since last June has added to the difficulty of economic

recovery in the region.

The crisis occurred in the overall context of

economic globalization, and its impact is being felt across

the world. Stepping up international cooperation and

putting an early end to this crisis is not only in the

immediate interests of the East Asian countries, but also

in the interests of the international community as a whole,

and especially of the developed countries. We hope that

those developed countries with important influence on the

region’s economy will shoulder their responsibilities and

take active, resolute and effective measures to make their

due contributions to safeguarding the stability of the

financial order and promoting the recovery and

development of the region’s economy.

Following the eruption of the East Asian financial

crisis, the Chinese Government has taken a highly

responsible attitude. China has rendered assistance to the

countries concerned within the framework arranged by

International Monetary Fund and, at the same time,

through bilateral channels. Proceeding from the overall

interests of maintaining the stability and development of

the region, China has made the decision not to devalue

the yuan renminbi, for which we have endured great

pressure and paid a heavy price. Now, despite the

growing pressure and risk facing us, our decision to

maintain the stability of the yuan renminbi will remain

unchanged.

Fighting with one heart and one mind, we won the

battle against the disastrous floods. We have taken a

series of measures to deepen our reform and expand

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domestic demand so as to ensure the sustained growth of

our economy and achieve the objective of an 8 per cent rise

in this year’s gross domestic product. We firmly believe

that with the common efforts of the countries in the region

and of the rest of the international community, the East

Asian economy will be able to gradually get out of its

predicament and return to the road of sound development.

The Middle East peace process has been in a stalemate

for some time, which has aroused widespread concern in

the international community. We are of the view that the

Arab nations and Israel should hold earnest and pragmatic

negotiations so as to achieve a comprehensive, just and

lasting peace, which will be not only in the fundamental

interests of the Arab and Israeli peoples, but also conducive

to world peace and stability. We hope that all the parties

concerned in the Arab-Israeli disputes will take a flexible

and pragmatic position to promote steady progress in the

peace negotiations under the principle of land for peace and

on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions and

the agreements already reached. The Chinese Government

will, as always, support the Middle East peace process and

the efforts made by the United Nations and the relevant

parties to this end.

We are following the developments in the Kosovo

region of Yugoslavia with concern. It is our hope that the

parties involved will solve the problem through political

dialogue. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of

Yugoslavia should be respected. Peace and stability in the

Balkans have been hard won and should be cherished all

the more by the relevant parties and by the international

community.

The border conflicts between Ethiopia and Eritrea and

the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are

another source of concern for us. It is hoped that they will

be appropriately resolved by the parties involved through

peaceful means.

The twenty-first century is greeting us. On the

threshold of the new century, the United Nations bears

heavy responsibilities with regard to maintaining world

peace, promoting human progress and establishing a just

and rational new international political and economic order.

It has an irreplaceable role to play. Above all, after the end

of the cold war, the United Nations, with fewer constraints

and more vitality, is confronted with unprecedented

opportunities. In this context, the United Nations should and

can use its own advantages to play a unique and

constructive role in building a peaceful, secure and stable

world, in establishing a new type of international

relationship based on friendship and cooperation and in

taking up the common challenges facing mankind.

China has consistently held that it is necessary to

carry out appropriate reform in the United Nations so that

the Organization can better keep abreast of the changing

situation and serve its numerous Member States. We have

taken note of the initial progress of United Nations reform

in a number of fields promoted by all Member States.

Some reform measures and recommendations proposed by

the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, have been

approved by the General Assembly and are now being put

into practice. Intense discussions on reform of the

Security Council are also in orderly progress. At present,

there are still differences among Member States on quite

a few issues involved in the reform of the Security

Council. We hope that all parties will adopt a constructive

approach and play an active part in the relevant

consultations with a view to reaching a proper settlement

of relevant issues.

Here, I wish to reiterate the basic position of the

Chinese Government on these issues. First, the reform of

the Security Council bears on the interests of all countries

and so requires a democratic style of work and extensive

and full consultations. All Member States should have an

equal right to speak on the question of the reform, and

their reasonable proposals should be fully reflected.

Secondly, the Security Council is not a club of rich

countries. The purpose of its reform is not just to meet

the concerns of a few big countries. Rather, more

attention should be given to the interests and aspirations

of the vast number of developing countries.

Representation should be balanced between the developed

and the developing countries.

Thirdly, the reform measures are of major

significance, as they bear on enhancing the role of the

Security Council in maintaining international peace and

security. They should be worked out on the basis of the

realities and in the light of history. It is a matter of course

that the objective of the reform of the Security Council is

to solve problems rather than to create new sources of

discord. In order to ensure that the reformed Security

Council gains extensive support from Member States, it

is essential to adhere to the principle of consensus.

This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the

adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In the past 50 years, the Declaration has vigorously

promoted the advancement and development of the cause

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of human rights in the world. Vast numbers of people in

Asia, Africa and Latin America freed themselves from

colonial rule. The South African people rooted out the dark

system of apartheid, won basic political rights and became

an equal member of the international community. The

United Nations, for its part, adopted a series of international

instruments on human rights such as the Declaration on the

Right to Development, further enriching the content of

human rights. The right to development has been

universally recognized in the international community as an

inseparable part of basic human rights.

In the meantime, earth-shaking changes have taken

place in China. Especially in the past two decades, since the

introduction of reform and opening up, China has witnessed

an ever-improved practice of democracy, an ever-improved

legal system and ever-enhanced legal protection of the

rights of its people. It is perfectly obvious that the Chinese

people now enjoy a higher degree of freedom and equality

than ever before and a much fuller and more settled life

than in the past. The Chinese Government will continue to

make unremitting efforts to advance democracy and to

strengthen the legal system, while developing the economy

so as to better ensure that its people enjoy human rights to

the full.

The Chinese Government is active in supporting and

participating in the activities of the United Nations in the

field of human rights. China has all along stood for

international cooperation in the field of human rights on the

basis of equality and mutual respect, so as to enhance

understanding, narrow differences, expand common ground

and strengthen cooperation through dialogue. The Chinese

Government is ready to engage in dialogue, exchanges and

cooperation, on the basis of equality and mutual respect,

with human rights organizations at the national and

international levels.

Last October, the Chinese Government signed the

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural

Rights. As to the International Covenant on Civil and

Political Rights, I earnestly declare here that the Chinese

Government has decided to sign it early next month. This

once again testifies to the resolve of the Chinese

Government with respect to promoting and protecting

human rights. China is ready to continue to work with other

countries to maintain and increase the current positive

momentum of dialogue and cooperation so as to promote

the furtherance of the world cause of human rights.

This year is the twentieth anniversary of the

introduction of the policy of reform and opening up in

China. In these two decades, China has scored

tremendous achievements in its reform, opening up and

modernization drive. Particularly in recent years, our

national economy has gained a favourable momentum of

high growth and low inflation, thanks to deepened

reforms and strengthened macroeconomic regulation. Last

September, the Communist Party of China, at its fifteenth

National Congress, formulated a blueprint for China’s

cross-century development based on the new

developments both on the domestic and international

scene. In March this year, our new State institutions and

new Government were formed through elections at the

first session of the ninth National People’s Congress of

China. We will build energetically on our political and

economic restructuring and carry forward the cause of

building socialism with Chinese characteristics into the

twenty-first century in a comprehensive way.

China’s modernization drive requires a stable

international environment of peace. China will continue to

pursue its independent foreign policy of peace. This

policy is sustained by three pillars: to persist in

independence and maintain the initiative, to safeguard

world peace, and to seek common development.

To persist in independence and maintain the

initiative, we always put our State sovereignty and

national security first and never develop relations with

other countries at the expense of our own sovereignty.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s sacred

territory. The successful return of Hong Kong and the

upcoming return of Macao will undoubtedly provide

useful inspiration and create favourable conditions for the

settlement of the Taiwan question. We will, as always,

adhere to the basic policy of peaceful reunification and

one country/two systems; adhere to President Jiang

Zemin’s eight-point proposal on developing cross-Strait

relations and promoting the process of peaceful

reunification of the motherland; expand cross-Strait

exchanges and cooperation in various fields; and

resolutely oppose the creation of the “independence of

Taiwan”, “two Chinas” and “one China/one, Taiwan” and

Taiwan’s attempt to re-enter the United Nations.

We respect the sovereignty of other countries and

vigorously support the efforts of all countries in the

world, and of developing countries in particular, to defend

their State sovereignty, while firmly safeguarding our

own. In handling international relations, we adhere to

non-alignment, non-confrontation and the non-targeting of

Third States. We do not go in for military blocs and the

13

arms race, nor do we engage in military expansion. China’s

development will not pose a threat to any other country.

The so-called “China threat” is entirely unfounded and

fabricated with ulterior motives.

To safeguard world peace, China is a staunch force for

the maintenance of world peace and regional stability. It is

our consistent view that State-to-State relations should be

handled in a spirit of mutual respect and peaceful

coexistence, transcending differences in social systems and

ideologies. Countries should safeguard their own interests

and, at the same time, respect those of others and

continuously expand mutually beneficial cooperation by

seeking the convergent points of common interests. With

regard to existing differences and disputes, it is necessary

to persist in dialogue, not engage in confrontation, and

strive to settle them by peaceful means rather than by

resorting to force or the threat of force.

It is essential to completely reject the mentality of the

cold war, advocate a new security concept and resolve

international and regional security issues through consensus

and participation on an equal footing. We in China stand

for the equality of all countries, big or small, and for

accelerated democratization of international relations. World

affairs should be handled through consultation by all

countries, and no country should impose its own will on

others.

To seek common development, peace is the

prerequisite of development and development is the basis of

peace. In today’s world, where the economy is increasingly

globalized, countries must pursue an open policy in order

to achieve economic growth. Opening up to the outside

world is China’s long-standing basic State policy. As a

huge emerging market, China will strive to keep abreast of

the trend of economic globalization and be even more

active in opening up to the world. It is ready to develop

trade and expand scientific and technological exchanges

with all countries on the basis of equality and mutual

benefit and in the interest of common progress. It attaches

importance to and actively participates in the activities of

the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (APEC)

and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and sets store by the

establishment and development of friendly exchanges and

cooperation with other global and intercontinental or

regional organizations for economic cooperation.

China continues to take a positive attitude towards

joining the World Trade Organization (WTO). Thanks to

unremitting efforts over a decade, China is already qualified

for entry. Regrettably, however, the relevant negotiations

have dragged on and on with no decision having been

made. China is a developing country, and we can

negotiate China’s entry into the WTO only on this basis,

in accordance with the principle of balancing rights and

obligations. It is our hope that the countries concerned

will take a practical, fair and flexible attitude, give up

excessive demands and work for an early conclusion of

the relevant negotiations. China’s joining the WTO will

benefit all its members and make the multilateral trade

mechanism complete and more balanced.

Before I conclude my speech, please allow me to

use the forum of the United Nations to brief you on

China’s flood-fighting and disaster-relief efforts. Owing

to such factors as abnormal climate changes this year,

catastrophic floods swept along the Yangtze, Nenjiang,

Songhua and other rivers of China. The sheer size of the

submerged regions, the duration of the floods and the

seriousness of the disaster they caused were something

rarely seen before. Giving top priority to the protection of

people’s lives and their safety, the Chinese Government

mobilized forces from all sectors across the country and

organized millions of soldiers and civilians for an all-out

battle against the floods and for disaster relief. Thus, the

assaults of flood crests were repelled again and again; the

safety of the main dykes, the main transport arteries and

major cities along the rivers was ensured; and the loss of

life and property was kept to a minimum.

At present, the Chinese Government is sparing no

effort to resettle the people affected by the flood and has

started reconstruction projects in the disaster areas. We

are taking every measure possible, with full confidence,

to ensure that there will be no famine and no widespread

epidemic diseases in the wake of the natural disaster and

that none of the pupils or students in the flood-hit areas

will drop out from school or be deprived of education. In

the course of reconstruction, we will carry forward the

great flood-fighting spirit in an all-round endeavour to

push forward our reform and opening up and the socialist

modernization drive.

Since China was hit by the disastrous floods, a

number of countries and international organizations and

communities have sent messages to express sympathy and

solicitude, and rendered support and assistance to China.

I wish to take this opportunity to extend, on behalf of the

Chinese Government and people, our most sincere

gratitude to them.

The world of today is a world of interdependence.

The promotion of peace, cooperation and development has

14

become the main trend of the times. Let us join hands and

work together to bring into the twenty-first century a world

of peace, security and stability in the interest of

development.